Several Grand Rapids area amateur and collegiate golfers will be in the field at the Michigan Women’s Amateur next Monday through Friday at Prestwick Village in Highland.

Two-time champions Joan Garety of Ada and Kentwood native Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll will head the local contingent.

The field starts with 36 holes of stroke play over two days to determine a match play bracket. Match play then is spread out over three days to decide a champion.

Natalie Brehm of Mount Pleasant, a Michigan State golfer, is the defending champion. She won last year at St. Clair River Country Club, beating teammate Christine Meier in the final match.

Among the other Grand Rapids-area golfers in the event are Libby Berens of Zeeland, Britta Bernth of Greenville, Alanna Gerber of Hudsonville, Heather Marks of Byron Center and Katrina Templar of Greenville.

***Chester Vandenberg, a former Cornerstone University golfer from Martin, held off a comeback by Tom Werkmeister to win the 2011 Curly Shipman Classic at Railside Country Club on Sunday.

Vandenberg shot rounds of 68 and 70 for 6-under-par 138, one shot ahead of Werkmeister, who shot 71-68-139 with a bogey on his final hole of the tournament.

***Grand Valley Amateur applications are being accepted through Friday for the Saturday and Sunday 54-hole event at The Meadows at Grand Valley State. The entry fee is $90 for the event that attracts top golfers from West Michigan. Tee times start at 7:30 a.m.

Saturday for the first round. A cut to the low 70 scorers and ties is made after the first round, and the second round will have a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Saturday. Another cut will then be made to the low 30 scorers and ties, and a final round will be played starting at about 1:30 p.m. Call 616-331-1004 or visitgvsu.edu/meadows for application information.

Former GVSU golfer Travis Shooks is the defending champion, and Bob Sakocius won the senior division last summer.

***Emmie Pietila of Brighton shot rounds of 73 and 72 to win the Golf Association of Michigan Women’s Championship last week at Gull Lake Country Club in Richland.

Pietila, who is headed to Eastern Michigan University to play golf, birdied the 18th hole from the trees to edge Alainna Stefan of Dearborn by one shot. Stefan shot 71-75.***Professionals and amateurs from the U.S. and Canada are invited to play in the new Michigan Pro-Am Tournament, a 54-hole event scheduled for Sept. 7-11 on three championship courses at Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire.

The event is organized by The Golf Connection, an international promotion group that conducts similar tournaments in Jamaica, St. Kitts, and Cancun.

The group has signed a three-year contract with Shanty Creek. Teams of one PGA pro and three amateurs will compete. The event is open to a maximum of 30 teams.

Golfers can contact the Michigan PGA for help setting up a team. Tournament packages start at $1,749 per person (double occupancy) if booked by Aug. 1, and include four nights lodging, meals, three tournament rounds and additional unlimited golf and evening dinner receptions.